Al-Harbi to Al-Jarida: 4 Complex Robotic Cancer Surgeries Performed in Farwaniya
Dr. Obaid Al-Harbi announced the performance of four complex robotic surgeries for colon and rectal cancer at Farwaniya Hospital, emphasizing the technology's benefits in reducing complications and improving patients' quality of life.
Translated by Qiyas from الجريدة — Original source
Dr. Obaid Al-Harbi, a surgical consultant at Al-Farwaniya Hospital, announced that the surgery department performed four complex operations on patients with colorectal cancer using robotic surgery, as part of a specialized workshop held over two days, with the participation of local and international medical experts.
Al-Harbi stated in an interview with "Al-Jarida" that the workshop focused on complex rectal cancer surgeries and witnessed the procedures carried out by an integrated medical team comprising surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and intensive care specialists. He emphasized the importance of exchanging expertise and enhancing surgeons’ skills in using modern minimally invasive surgical techniques.
He stressed that despite the high cost of robotic surgery, its true value lies in its judicious use, through regulated application and selecting cases that offer significant surgical advantages. He clarified that directing robotic use toward complex cases, particularly rectal and pelvic tumors requiring high precision, yields the greatest therapeutic benefit for patients, enhances clinical efficiency, and ensures optimal utilization of healthcare resources.
He added that robotic surgery offers distinct advantages over open and laparoscopic surgery, providing surgeons with an enlarged three-dimensional view and flexible instruments that mimic human hand movements. This allows for precise resection of the rectum and mesorectum within the narrow pelvic cavity. Furthermore, it helps preserve nerves responsible for sexual and urinary functions, reduces the risk of injury to pelvic nerves and delicate blood vessels, and lowers the likelihood of certain complications, such as erectile dysfunction, bladder disorders, and urinary incontinence, which can affect patients’ quality of life after surgery.
For his part, Dr. Mahmoud Faragly, a senior surgical specialist at Al-Farwaniya Hospital, confirmed that these surgeries contribute to reducing bleeding and blood loss, alleviating postoperative pain, shortening hospital stays, and accelerating the return to normal activities and daily life, particularly in complex cases and low pelvic tumors.
